Multiple push button switch construction



y 1941' R. s. EDWARDS 2,249,122

MULTIPLE PUSH BUTTON SWITCH CONSTRUCTION Filed July 15, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 T 2'2 22 )0 me 16 m m m a;

INVENTOR 05597 $.f'0WA/ED5 ATT RNEY July 15, 1941. R. s. EDWARDS 2,249,122

MULTIPLE PUSH BUTTON SWITCH CONSTRUCTION Filed July 15, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 05597 .5. fpu Afioa ATTORNEY Patented July 15, 1941 MULTIPLE PUSH BUTTON SWITCH CONSTRUCTION Robert S. Edwards, New Canaan, Conn, assignor to Edwards and Company, Inc, Norwalk, Conn, a corporation of New York Application July 15, 1939, Serial No. 284,614

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a push button switch construction, more particularly of the multiple or gang type.

This application is a continuation in part of my co-pending application Serial No. 149,148, filed June 19, 1937, matured August 22, 1939, into Patent No. 2,169,996.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an inexpensive, compact and durable multiple push button switch construction that will be of efficient and reliable action. Another object is to provide a gang type of switch construction that can be fabricated in a simple and ellicient manner out of inexpensive material, and that will be capable of assembly with other parts in a wide variety of relationships, thus to meet varying requirements of practical installation. Another object is to provide a gang type of construction in which warping or distortion of cer tain non-metallic parts may be avoided in a simple and dependable way. Another object is to provide, for a gang type of push button switch construction, unit assemblies or sub-assemblies of inexpensive fabrication capable of ready incorporation into the ultimate structure or installation, or capable of such variety or flexibility of assembly as to meet varying requirements in practice. Another object is to provide a construction of the above mentioned character that will achieve compactness of arrangement and neatness of appearance, and that will avoid the cumbersomeness and objectionable bulk of prior constructions. Another object is to provide a push button switch unit or sub-assembly that will be of compact construction and efiicient action and capable of wide adaptability and flexibility of interrelationship with other parts, according to circumstances met with in practice. Another object is, in general, to improve upon the construction and assembly of push button switches. Other objects will be in part obvious or in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts as will be exemplified in the structure to be hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a development of a sheet-metal stamping in an initial stage of its construction for forming the frame of the switch construction;

Figure 2 is a development or plan view of an insulating sheet member;

Figure 3 is a plan View of a combined contact and connector element;

Figure 4 is a plan View or a sub-assembly of a multiple push button switch structure;

Figure 5 is a side elevation, partly in section, as seen along the line 55 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a bottom view as seen from the bottom in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is an exploded perspective View showing various parts with which the sub-assembly of Figures 4, 5 and 6 may be assembled to form a so-called desk-push Figure 8 is a perspective view of a spring ele ment which may be assembled to the sub-assembly of Figures l, 5 and 6; and

Figure 9 is a fragmentary perspective view, partly in vertical section, showing another illustrative relationship of the sub-assembly of Figures 4, 5 and 6 to other parts.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Preferably, in making up the switch unit, I utilize sheet metal preferably in strip form and shaped or conformed in any suitable way, as by a punch-press operation, as indicated generally by the reference character It! in Figure l; member ll] may be thus made up in any suitable length and is preferably symmetrically shaped with respect to its longitudinal axis. Along the latter, I provide round apertures H, one for each of the push buttons which the ultimate switch construction is to have, and, in accordance with certain features of my invention, I am enabled to space these apertures I! very closely, say on the order of from center to center. The apertures II are preferably round and, in diameter, may be on the order of 5%".

The marginal portions to each side of the alined apertures H are cut out as shown to provide transversely alined tongues 12, I2 that project from similarly alined portions l3, l3, the coincident transverse axes of these two pairs of parts extending midway between two adjacent apertures H.

The member It! may be made up in any suitable lengths and the shaping of its two longi tudinal edge portions facilitates economy in use of sheet metal, particularly where strip members Ill are formed out of successive portions of a larger piece of sheet metal. Thus, for example, the tongues i2 of the next adjacent member 10 to be stamped or cut out of the sheet material correspond to the tongues left in the edge of the latter as the cut-outs [4, I4 are made in the member is, while the cutting out of the tongues !2 of the member Hi form the cut-outs (corresponding to the cut-outs l4) that are to be provided in the next adjacent stamping, and so on. In fact, I am enabled, if so desired, to cause the broken line along which either or both of the longitudinal edges of the member I!) are severed to form also an identical or similar shape of edge for the next adjacent strip to be cut out of the sheet metal.

Where the strip |U is made up in a length having apertures H and corresponding marginal portions, which in number are different from the number of push button switches that are to make up the initial unit, strip I may be severed transversely along the transverse center lines of two longitudinally spaced pairs of lugs or ears |2, |2, as, for example, along the lines A-A and BB in Figure 1, thus to include therebetween six apertures H where the unit is to contain six push button switches.

The resultant member H1 is then, in any suitable way, as in a punch press, bent to give it in cross-section a U-shaped form, as by bending along the lines 0-0 and DD of Figure 1, thereby forming a frame having a top portion ||I (Figure l) having therein the desired number of apertures H, and two spaced depending portions lfi and W (Figures 4, and 6) whose lowermost edges terminate in the ears l2, each ear having on each side thereof shoulders |5 formed by the portions |3, |3, as is better-shown in Figures 1 and 5, excepting the endmost pairs of ears |2, which are half-ears and which, hence, have each only one shoulder l5 (see Figure 5), due to the preferred or selected positions of the severing lines AA and BB.

With the U-shaped frame member positioned upside-down so as to present opposed and alined pairs of shoulders |3, |3 upwardly, all of them lying preferably in the same plane parallel to the face of the top portion W of the frame, there is inserted into each aperture II the cylindrical portion P3 of a push button l6 which has a peripheral shoulder H5 to limit the extent of projection of the portion |6 through the frame part i The button i6 may be made of a moldable plastic, like Bakelite, and has a stem ll, preferably of metal and molded into it, projecting coaxially from the end that is flanged as at I 6', as is better shown in Figure 5. Stem I1 is of a length sufiicient to project beyond the plane of the shoulders I 5.

Strung on to the stem l1 and resting against the face of the button |6, that face being preferably convex, is a metallic washer or disk l9 made of a suitable springy metal like phosphorbronze, being of a diameter less than the inside spacing between the spaced depending flange portions |6 and 8. Then there is strung on to the stem H a compressible helical spring |8.

Next I make up a suitable sheet insulating material, like fiber, into strips of any desired length such as the strip of Figure 2. It is of a width equal to or slightly greater than the outside width of the frame, as seen in Figure 4, and along its central longitudinal axis it has apertures 2| diametered to receive the stern l1 and spaced center to center, the same as the apertures H in the part IQ of Figure 1. Its opposed longitudinal edges are cut out to provide opposed pairs of cut-outs 22 to accommodate the ears |2 and being correspondingly spaced.

To each side of each aperture 2| the strip 20 is provided with apertiu'es 23, preferably rectangu- 7 lar in shape (see Figiu'e 2), and each apcrtiue 23 has inserted into it a correspondingly cross-sectioned tab portion 24 of a small sheet-metal plate 24 (Figures 3 and 5) to the extent permitted by the opposed shoulders 24*, 24 By means of any suitable tool, the metal at the opposed ends of the tab portion 24, now projecting somewhat from the other side of the fiber member 20, is upset, headed over, expanded or otherwise deformed, as is better indicated in Figure 5, thus securing the small plate 24 dependably to the fiber member 26.

Thus, there is presented to each side of each aperture 2|, and all projecting from one face of the fiber member 26, an upstanding contact portion 24 (Figure 3) of the combined contact and connector element 24, while exposed from the other side of the fiber member 20 is the plate member 24 which has a threaded hole in it to receive a binding screw 25.

The resultant sub-assembly of parts 20 and 24-25 (Figures 2 and 3) may be made up in any suitable length or lengths. Thus, fiber member 20 may be severed as along the lines E-E and FF, each extending along the transverse center line of opposed pairs of cut-outs 22, 22, and sumciently spaced to include therebetween six aperture 2| with six pairs of devices 2425 assembled thereto in the manner above described, where the ultimate unit is to have six push button switches, or this sub-assembly may be made up in shorter lengths as by severing along the lines E-E and G-G, illustratively to provide a sub-unit having two apertures 2| and two pairs of contact-connector devices 24--25.

In the former case such a single sub-unit having six pairs of contact-connector elements or in the latter case three sub-units each having two pairs of contact-connector elements, may now be assembled to the frame with the push buttons, disks and springs related thereto, as above described; the fiber element or elements are brought into position against the shoulders 5, IS with the ears I 2, I2 entering the cut-outs 22, 22, all as is better shown in Figures 5 and 6, the stems I having their lower ends entered into the apertures 2| of the insulating sheet member or members. The ears I2 are now bent over on to the fiber member or members, clamping the latter securely against the alined shoulders l5. The ears l2, l2 at the extreme ends (see Figure 6), being in effect only half-ears nevertheless effect clamping action, taking into the corresponding half-cut-outs 22, 22, respectively. Where adjacent ends of successive fiber sections meet (see Figure 6), the opposed half-cut-outs 22, 22 at the adjacent ends together make up an entire or whole cut-out into each of which the whole ear 22 is received, being bent over into clamping relationship against the meeting faces of the adjacent ends of the two fiber members.

The resultant switch unit is small, compact, efficient and durable; it may be made up of as many push button switches as may be desired; the construction of the frame lends it strength and rigidity, while the closely spaced and uniformly distributed clamping ears l2 clamp the fiber piece or pieces securely against the alined shoulders |5, not only alining pairs of contact parts 24 properly for coaction with the bridging disk IS, the latter being normally held by spring I8 out of bridging contact, but also preventing warping of the sheet insulating material, irrespective of whether the latter is of short or long length or made up of a succession of short lengths or sub-units. Also the connector elements 24-25 become alined compactly to the re spcctive sides of the longitudinal axis, and the heads of the screws 25, even when conductors clamped thereunder, are brought substantially within the lateral dimension of the construction.

The resultant push button switch unit may now be mounted in position or assembled to other parts. For example, referring to Figure '7, I may provide a supporting plate 21 apertured to fit over the push buttons it and dimensioned to suit the particular installation, securing the plate 21 to the sheet-metal frame of the switch unit in any suitable manner as, for example, by spot-welding it to the upper face W thereof. In Figure '7, the unit is to be made up into a so-called desk-push having a suitable casing 28 apertured as at 29 to permit entry of the cable carrying the conductors to be individually connected to the several connector elements Z425, whence the plate 21?, carrying the switch unit, may be fitted into closing position to the casing E8, the latter being rabbeted as at 36 to receive the peripheral portions of the plate 21' and of greater depth than the thickness of the latter. A sheet 3i of suitable material, such as paper or Celluloid, having apertures to take over the buttons !6 and bearing indicia 33, one alongside of each button it is now superimposed on the plate 27, whence a finishing or cover plate 34 apertured as at 36 to receive the buttons l6 therethrough and provided with windows 3?, one for each indicia 33, is now placed in position and the assemblage se cured together as by screws 38 passing through suitable registering apertures in the plate-like parts 34, 3! and 21 and threaded into opposed threaded holes 39 in the casing 28.

Or I may relate to the side portions tu and 59 of the U-shaped frame suitable compressible spring members illustratively shaped like the member it of Figures 8 and 9, distributing them lengthwise of the U-shaped frame to the sides of which they may be secured in any suitable manner as by spot-welding. Members 40 present a flat portion ie to rest against the sides of the Ushaped frame and outwardly bulging or curved springy portions Mi Thus equipped, the switch unit for example, be let into a suitable elongated or shaped. recess 4| in the supporting panel 62 (Figure 9), the hole or recess -H being shouldered as at 43 to form stops against which the edge portions of the fiber member or members 2B of. the unit rest, thus to bring the upper face of the U-shaped frame substantially in line with the upper face of panel 42, whence a cover plate M may be secured to the latter as by screws 4-5, plate idbeing apertured to let the buttons H project outwardly therethrough.

The width of the recess 4! is so proportioned with respect to the switch unit with its opposed spring members it, that the latter become compressed and their resiliency holds the unit in place, the connections of the conductors to'the connector elements 24 25 extending to the rear of the panel 42.

Thus, it will be seen that there has been provided in this invention a push button switch construction in which the various objects hereinbefore noted together with many thoroughly practical advantages are successfully achieved. The construction is inexpensive, strong and durable, can be inexpensively fabricated in various multiples or numbers of switches and thus the widely varying requirements, typified, for example, in

desk-pushes, vestibule switches, wall telephones and the like, may be inexpensively, efficiently and readily met.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention and as many changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A multiple push-button switch construction comprising a strip-like sheet-metal member having a plurality of apertures spaced along its longitudinal axis and bent along two lines spaced to either side of said axis to give it a Ushaped crosssecticn, the bent portions thereof having a plurality of juxtaposed bendable lugs with shoulders to each side of each lug formed in the ed es of said bent portions, said apertures having flanged push buttons projecting therethrough from the interior of said U-shaped member, each button having a stem projecting beyond the plane said shoulders and having a spring thereabout, each button having conductive bridging means, strip-like sheet insulating material having spaced along its longitudinal axis a plurality of apertures, one for each of said stems, and carrying, on opposite sides of each aperture, connectorcontact means carried by said insulating material and arranged in pairs, with each pair positioned adjacent an aperture, said strip-like insulating material having opposed longitudinal edge portions conformed to rest against said shoulders with apertures in said insulating material positioned to receive, respectively, said stems, said bendable lugs being bent over on to said insulating material to clamp the latter against said shoulders and hold it against warping, said push buttons with said stems and springs being thereby confined between said sheet-metal member and said insulating material, each for slidable movement under the guidance of its stem in an aperture in said insulating material and the guidance of the button in the aperture in said sheet-metal member.

2. A multiple push-button switch construction as claimed in claim 1, in which said bent side portions of said strip-like sheet-metal member are provided with lateral exposed spring means, a mounting member having a recess for receiving said construction with said spring means bearing against the side walls of the recess, said recess having means for limiting the extent of entry of said construction thereinto to an extent to cause said buttons to project beyond the face of said mounting member, and a cover plate over the face of said mounting member and having alined spaced apertures through which said buttons are exposed for manual manipulation, said construction being thereby confined between said limiting means and said cover plate, and hence against movement out of said recess.

3. A multiple push-button switch construction as claimed in claim 1, comprising a casing-like member having an aperture in a face thereof for receiving said construction with the upper face of said U-shaped sheet-metal member substantially alined with said face of said casing, thereby to present said connector elements to the interior of said casing, a plate member overlying both of said faces and having means securing it to each face, thereby to hold said member assembled to said casing, said plate having alined spaced apertures through which said buttons project.

4. A multiple push-button switch construction as claimed in claim 1, in which said strip-like insulating material is in the form of a plurality of transverse sections arranged substantially edge to edge, each section containing at least one of said apertures and at least one pair of contactconnector means, there being at least one pair of opposed lugs for each section, whereby said sections are clamped by said lugs against said shoulders and thereby held in edge-to-edge assembly.

5. A push-button switch sub-assembly comprising a sheet-metal member having an aperture and to each side of which said member is bent to give it a substantially U-shaped cross-section, its two bent portions each being cut to provide a bendable ear with a shoulder on each side thereof formed in the edge of the bent portion, a push button projecting from said aperture and having means limiting its movement in a direction upwardly and a downwardly projecting stem of a length to project beyond the plane of the shoulders in said two opposed bent portions,

there being a spring about said stem and said button having conductive bridging means, a sheetlike member of insulating material having opposed portions resting against said shoulders and an aperture alined with said first-mentioned aperture and receiving the end of said stem, said two apertures guiding said button for movement against or under the action of said spring, said insulating member carrying spaced connectorcontact means for electrically connecting thereto the conductors of a circuit and to be bridged by said bridging means, said bendable lugs being bent over on to said insulating member to clamp the latter against said shoulders, thereby to maintain said two apertures in alinement and to hold said insulating member against warping.

6. A sub-assembly as claimed in claim 5, in which said two connector-contact means comprise two plate-like shoulder members, said insulating member having two spaced apertures, one on each side of said first-mentioned aperture for respectively receiving said plate-like members to the extent permitted by said shoulders, the metal of each plate-like member being expanded to hold it against movement out of its aperture, said bridging element comprising an apertured disklike member strung onto said stem and interposed between the button and said spring and movable with the button against the action of the spring into bridging relation to said platelike members.

ROBERT S. EDWARDS. 

